It’s neither a big race nor an old race, but Birmingham’s 5K At The Junctionis unique in Alabama and a rarity in the United States.

Set for its sixth running on November 11, the race takes place in Birmingham’s Ensley neighborhood. The location seemed an unlikely candidate for a new running event when area fitness guru Jerri Haslem got the ball rolling in 2012. It’s the only USATF-certified event in a predominately black community in Alabama, Haslem said.

“When I said we were going to put on a race in Ensley, my family and my friends were like, ‘What the hell are we doing that for?’” said Haslem, 54. “And that first year, people in the neighborhood were looking at us like, ‘This is crazy.’ They were on their phones saying ‘They’re running in our neighborhood!’ They didn’t believe it.”

Despite the skepticism, Haslem’s inaugural event went off with 95 participants. And it has grown each year since. Last fall more than 400 registrations were received from 11 states for the 5K, named for the famed intersection at 19th Street and Ensley Avenue, known as Tuxedo Junction for its booming music and nightlife.

Some participants were virtual runners who wanted to support the effort. And Haslem is pleased that white runners and walkers have constituted at least half of all finishers the past three years.

“The whole community comes out, and it’s so diverse,” she said. “It is really amazing.”

5K At The Junction is just one of the many ways Haslem’s organization, Black People Run Bike and Swim, is making inroads against obesity, poor diet, and lack of exercise plaguing black communities nationwide, and especially in the South. A nonprofit, BPRBS was founded by Haslem and her close friend Patrick Packer in early 2012 to offer encouragement and guidance and promote better fitness among African-Americans. It’s a dream come true for Haslem.

“Even at a young age, I could see health inequities and disparities,” Haslem said. “And something within me said, ‘People shouldn’t have to live like that.’ But in the black community, it’s almost taboo to talk about weight and exercise or running. The attitude is, ‘I’m not doing that.’ And black men are terrible about avoiding doctors. So we’re trying to embrace men, too, and build a family-oriented program.”

Haslem, an Alabama native, completed a B.S. in health education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has been active in health issues and community outreach for more than 30 years. By day she works as a software engineer. But most of her spare time is spent convincing her peers that exercise pays significant benefits—and can be fun, too.

The challenges, however, are daunting. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 37.6 percent of African-American men and 56.9 percent of African-American women have body mass index scores above 30 and are classified as obese. The CDC also reports that more than 40 percent of all African-American adults suffer from hypertension. Furthermore, African-Americans develop diabetes at nearly twice the rate of whites.

Eric Thomas, 40, is a prime example of how diet and lifestyle habits can place even young adults at risk. Athletic as a child, Thomas allowed his weight to edge up in his late 20s and early 30s after he got married and started a family. “I just thought it was a part of getting older, and I still looked healthy and felt healthy,” Thomas said. “But when I went to my doctor and discovered I had high cholesterol, it kind of blew me away, because I was only 32 or 33. You don’t expect to hear that as a young guy.”

A couple of years on medication only frustrated Thomas. If anything he felt worse, and the drugs were expensive. Finally, in 2012 he started fitness walking with a bit of running mixed in. But it was meeting Haslem and being recruited into her 5K training program that really allowed Thomas to turn things around.

“Jerri was so encouraging, it gave me confidence,” Thomas said. “And then there was the camaraderie of the group which really helped. After that first race (the inaugural 5K At The Junction) I got bit by the running bug everyone was talking about. I lost 35 pounds and started training for my first half marathon. I just soaked everything up about it and realized I have a passion for running.”

Haslem noticed, and felt that Thomas would be a good coach. Now he’s running marathons and helping train others.

Thomas believes urban black populations miss out on exposure to running and other endurance sports. “As far as track and field goes,” he said, “it’s the shorter distances, the speed events, that are publicized. That’s all kids really know about."

Inspired by Jerri Haslem (center) and Patrick Packer (left), Eric Thomas shed more than 30 pounds and started running marathons. Now he’s a running coach.

Tan Crowder Photography

But through BPRBS and 5K At The Junction, Thomas continued, “they’re opening more eyes to running in our community and giving the sport more exposure. For people to see African-Americans running through their neighborhoods—that’s a little different from seeing it on TV, and people start to believe they, too, can run. There’s been some improvement in the six years I’ve been involved, and I think the numbers will continue to increase.”

BPRBS isn’t just about running. It also promotes cycling and swimming, and partners with area churches and organizations to encourage exercise and more healthful living. The group also supports local charities such as Jessie’s Place, a women’s and children’s shelter that is the primary beneficiary of proceeds from 5K At The Junction.

But running is at the heart of BPRBS, and Haslem is optimistic about its future in Birmingham, where African-Americans make up 73 percent of the total population.

“There’s a movement in the black community here that hasn’t been fully seen or acknowledged yet,” she said. “But I see it, and it is amazing. There are little pockets of black people who are moving, and it’s happening.”

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Runner's World participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.